The next several weeks sailed by without major incident. Kate had recovered fully from her fever, although she and Jack were still treading slightly cautious ground in the wake of their fight and all the hurtful things that passed between them.

Kate adamantly refused to even mention the baby, telling Jack once, and only once, that she was still waiting to see.

Jack, on the other hand, was seeing positive signs every time he turned around. He knew that she had been experiencing some morning sickness, although when he called her on it, she claimed it was "bad fruit." He swore that her belly was gaining a slightly rounded appearance, which she attributed to weight gained while she was ill and not able to move around as much. Just last night, he realized – at a most inopportune time – that her breasts were swollen and sore – to which she just laughed and playfully accused him of "rough handling."

Jack saw the fear in her eyes even as she shrugged off each new symptom and, not wanting to make things harder on her, allowed her to continue her actions, knowing that all would be reveled in time.

Besides, he had something else quite important occupying his mind these days…

-----------------------------

Kate was strolling along the beach with Claire, chatting aimlessly about nothing in particular. They had just reached the edge of the beach camp when Kate looked up and saw Jack perched on a rock several hundred yards away. He held in his hands a small object that Kate was unable to identify and it looked like he was polishing something. She watched him for a moment as he frowned at the object, then resumed his hand movements.

Kate nudged Claire and tilted her chin towards where Jack was sitting. "You see that?" she asked her friend, who followed Kate's line of sight until she, too, saw Jack. Claire nodded and Kate continued. "He's been so weird over that past few days. He's been working on something with his hands but he hides it every time I come near him. And maybe I'm just imagining things, but I swear every time we're having a romantic moment, he gets this look on his face like he's trying to decide something, then kinda shakes his head and continues whatever he's doing or saying."

Claire laughed. "You know, something weird is going on around here. Charlie's been the same way – I mean, not exactly, but he's been displaying some pretty weird behavior, too. I've seen him whispering to Hurley sometimes but he won't tell me anything about it. And now that you mention it, Shannon told me yesterday that Sayid has some 'secret' project going on as well."

Kate shook her head. "Well, let them have their fun," she said. "Anyway, we need to head up to the church. Eko wanted us to be there at sunset." Claire shifted Aaron to her other hip and followed Kate up the beach.

-----------------------------

Kate and Claire joined the rest of the islanders as they made their way up the rocky part of the beach toward the spot where Eko had built his church up on a little hill overlooking the beach camp. The structure was finally complete and Eko had asked them all to join him for the final step. Kate saw Jack standing at the edge of the group and moved to stand beside him.

"Thank you all for coming," Eko's deep voice boomed out after the crowd had gathered. "Yesterday Charlie and I finally finished the project that has become very special to us. There were times when we thought we'd never complete it, but our faith was strong and our cause just. Hence this.." – he swept his arm grandly towards the structure behind him – " – a building dedicated to the memory of my brother, Yemi, a true man of God, and a place where we can all worship as we choose. Charlie?" He turned to address the man standing next to him.

"Oh, right," Charlie said as he stepped off the church's porch and retrieved something that lay to the side of the building. He returned with a large wooden cross and handed it to Eko, then reached down to pick up the axe that was serving as their hammer.

"Friends, I would like you to witness the final step of our spiritual task today," Eko said as he placed the cross directly above the opening that served as the church's door. Charlie quickly nailed it in place as the rest of the islanders broke into applause.

"Eko, it's beautiful, man," Jack said as he moved through the crowd to shake Eko's hand, then Charlie's. Locke joined them and nodded in agreement.

"You've done a good thing here, Mr. Eko, Charlie" he said. The two men smiled at the praise.

Jack moved away so that others could move in to congratulate Eko and Charlie. He looked around for Kate and saw her standing off to the side. The wind had picked up and her hair was slipping out of its bun and beginning to swirl around her face. The setting sun cast shades of red and orange and pink and purple all around her and Jack felt his heart lurch at the absolute beauty of her. And then suddenly he knew…

"Kate!" he called out as he made his way towards her. She turned towards him and smiled, the smile turning towards confusion as he dropped to his knees on the sand in front of her.

"Jack, what are you…" she began, but Jack held up a hand.

"Kate, I've been trying to find a way to do this for two weeks now," he said, taking her hands in his own. "I wanted it all to be perfect…wanted to give you something you'd remember for the rest of your…of our lives." He paused and swallowed nervously as the other islanders noticed what was going on and began to crowd in for a closer look. "I just realized that there would never be another time or another place more appropriate than this…the first major symbol of our new life, our first real building…and here, in front of all these people who have become our new family. So, Kate…" Jack paused and took another deep breath. "Kate, will you marry me?"

Tears were streaming down Kate's cheeks. There was absolute silence as she swiped furiously at them, then smiled down at Jack. "Yes, Jack, I will marry you. Yes, yes, a hundred times yes!" Cheers broke out among their friends as Jack stood and swept her into his arms, his lips locked firmly against hers in a sweet, yet passionate, kiss. Finally breaking apart, he smiled down at her.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, releasing her as he dug into his pocket and pulled out the ring he'd been working on for weeks.

Kate gasped as Jack slid it onto her finger. "Jack, it's gorgeous!" she said, holding out her hand to admire the ring. The ring was made from a shell Jack had found one day, a beautiful shell that was pink and blue and white all at once. He'd spent hours carving a ring out of the shell, then even longer using a sharp rock to smooth and shape it. It fit Kate's finger perfectly. She snuggled happily into Jack's arms, then turned as another commotion broke out a few feet away. She nearly laughed out loud when she saw Sayid on his knees in front of Shannon.

"Jack, Kate, I hope you do not think I am…ah, 'stealing your thunder,' as it were," he said lightly before turning back to Shannon. "But I, too, have been waiting several weeks to ask Shannon an important question and Jack is right – there is no place more appropriate than this in which to ask this question. Shannon, will you marry me?" He held out a silver ring, made from scrap metal he had salvaged and polished until it shone brightly in the setting sun. Shannon was laughing and crying at the same time as he slipped it onto her finger.

"Yes," she said simply. Sayid smiled and leaned over to place a small kiss on her pregnant stomach before rising and pulling her into his arms.

"Okay, mates, this is getting a little bizarre," Charlie said. "But, aw, what the hell!" He glanced at Hurley and both men dropped to their knees in front of Claire and Libby, who were standing together watching the drama unfold. The two women let out a simultaneous gasp as Charlie and Hurley each pulled a ring from their respective pockets. Charlie went first.

"Claire, I've loved you since the day I met you and I know that I always will. Marry me, Claire, you and Aaron both marry me and let me be a part of your family." Claire found herself unable to speak and simply nodded as Charlie slipped a ring made of several pieces of wire wound together and polished to a bright shine onto her finger. "Your turn, mate," he said to Hurley as he rose.

"Uh, I'm not as good with, you know, the words and all like Jack and Charlie," Hurley said nervously as he gripped Libby's small hand in his own large one. "But, uh, but I do love you, Libby. I think you're the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful woman I've ever known and…uh, well, and I'd be honored if you would marry me. Oh, and, uh, here," he finished as he handed her a ring similar to the one Jack had made for Kate. "So will you?" he asked again.

"Yes, Hurley, I will," Libby said as she slipped the ring onto her finger, then pulled Hurley up to place a kiss on his lips.

"Anyone else?" Jack asked, eliciting laughter from the crowd that was still gathered around them. The newly engaged couples looked at one another happily.

"Ummm…." Sun's voice rose above the din. Everyone turned to look at her. She smiled shyly and reached for Jin's hand. "Jin and I are going to have a baby." Cheers broke out once again as everyone moved to hug the parents-to-be.

"Well, good goin' there, Daddio," Sawyer said happily as he slapped Jin on the back. Jin smiled broadly and hugged Sun close to him.

Several of the islanders had begun to head back towards their shelters, but the core group of friends remained by the church, all still laughing and celebrating and even beginning to throw around wedding plans. Sawyer walked over and slipped his arms around Ana Lucia's waist.

"You know, chica, all this mushy stuff has put me in a sentimental mood. I ain't getting down on my knees like those saps, but whatdaya say…you wanna marry me? Make an honest man of me?" His tone was light and playful, but Ana could see the seriousness in his eyes. She smiled – she, too, had some news and had been waiting for nearly a week to tell him. Jack, Kate, and the others all fell silent as they waited for her response.

"I guess I could do that," she replied, trying hard to keep her voice casual. "I mean, since I am carrying your baby and all…" she waited for the words to sink in, then laughed out loud at the look on his face.

"You mean…wait, are you shittin' me?" Sawyer asked in disbelief.

"You know, I never fully understood that expression, but no, I am not shitting you," Ana Lucia replied. "Get used to it, bud. You're going to be a daddy."

Sawyer was silent for another minute, then shot a smug grin in Jin's direction. "Guess you ain't the only one with some strong swimmers, pal," he said as he pulled Ana back to him. Jin laughed as Sun translated the remark.

"Daddio," he said carefully amid much laughter from the others.

-----------------------------

It was nearly an hour later when the friends began to disperse, the women planning the wedding – for it was already decided that they would marry en masse – and the men just shaking their heads and saying "yes" to whatever was proposed.

Jack had his arm wrapped tightly around Kate's shoulders as they walked down the path towards the caves. My fiancé, he thought happily as the strolled. Soon I can call her my wife…he was jerked out of his thoughts when Kate stopped suddenly, her hands flying to her stomach.

"What, what is it?" he asked and Kate could hear the panic in his voice. "Are you okay?"

Kate looked at him in wonderment. "Jack, it moved," she said softly. "Our baby just moved." She pressed her hands harder against her abdomen and laughed out loud as she felt the movement again. "Jack, he's okay!" she cried happily, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He's in there and he's okay and he's moving and…oh, Jack!" She grabbed his hands and pressed them to where she had felt the sensations. After several seconds he, too, felt it – a small fluttering, just enough to know, just enough to say hey, mom and dad, I'm okay in here. For the second time that day, Jack fell to his knees in front of Kate and pressed his lips to her stomach.

"Hey there, little guy," he said softly, his lips close to her warm skin. "I guess you thought today was a special day, too." He smiled up at Kate. "I know I'll never forget it."

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Okay, so this chapter was a little wild. I hope y'all found it smooth going – it felt a little disjointed to me at times. Writing five marriage proposals and trying to be original was certainly a challenge.

For those of you paying close attention – I threw in one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies (don't worry, I wasn't trying to steal it!) I remember bursting out laughing the first time I saw this movie in the theatre when a certain actress with the initials R.W. said this line and I still laugh every time I hear it. Bonus points to you if you can spot it and super-cool-person-with-good-taste-in-movies-points if you know the actress and the movie.

Please review and let me know what you think of how things are going. Only one more chapter to go (the wedding, of course) and then an epilogue, which has already been written and is set thirty years in the future.